The Festool 6" Rotex dual mode sander is a wonderfully versatile sander, great especially for people who don't have tons of other sanders. The sander allows you to choose between the aggressive, "Rotex" mode for heavy-duty tasks like stripping a lot of stock from large surfaces, and random-orbit mode for finer sanding tasks -- without needing multiple machines. So you can go from stripping paint, finish or dried glue from a big area, to final finishing, all with the same machine. And since it's a Festool, the machine itself is both powerful and comfortable to use, with an ergonomic grip and good balance. As you'd expect from Festool, the dust extraction system is second to none and makes your work neater and easier. Considering their power, the sanders are relatively quiet and low vibrating.

The sander features Festool's customary design innovations, including the plug-it cord that enables you to use a single cord that is easily detached and plugged in from one Festool tool to another; a bumper guard so that you can sand up to adjacent surfaces without damaging either the work piece or your sanding pad; additional sanding pads for harder and softer backings that can be quickly changed (with no tools!) using the Rotex FastFix chuck system. The sanding disks all use standard hook and loop attachments. The secret to the near total dust extraction is a center "Jetstream" intake hole. The air circulation also keeps the a sanding disk cool and with no dust buildup the sander will cut faster, cooler, cleaner, and disks will last longer.

If you're debating between the 5" and 6" models, the 6" is heavier, more expensive, and less nimble - but the larger disk means faster sanding and that means a lot.

"Unique features that woodworkers will appreciate... The one I liked best was its sanding range. When I wanted to remove a lot of stock from a large surface, the 750-watt motor could make the tool sand exceptionally aggressively. When I wanted to lightly sand a relatively small or narrow part, like a 2-in.-wide rails and stiles, the tool could do that too.
When hooked up to a shop vacuum, the sander did an excellent job of collecting dust...it left no noticeable dust on the workpiece or in the air.
"Festool sander gets everything right...a great sander with many well-thought-out features." -- Fine Woodworking